Slip cover for sofas with cushion retention means

ABSTRACT

A slip cover for upholstered furniture, particularly chairs and sofas employing a stretchable fabric having an elastic peripheral edge. The construction includes a separate cover portion for the cushion of a sofa which has a L-shaped rear wall which maintains the cover in position when the cushion is sat upon by allowing material to expand forwardly over an upper surface of said cushion to retract when the furniture is vacated. Elongated resilient tubes are provided for positioning at the rear surfaces of the cushion of the sofa to maintain excess material within an interstice. Separate elongated tensioning devices include a fabric-engaging clip at one end and an elongated tongue at an opposite end to provide additional tension on the cover in areas requiring the same.

RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] Reference is made to my copending provisional application serial No. 60/416,420; filed Oct. 7, 2002, to which a claim of priority is made.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates generally to the field of textile covers for upholstered furniture, particularly sofas and couches, and more particularly to an improved construction using elastic fabrics so that they do not require any substantial fitting.

[0003] It is known in the prior art to make custom fitted covers which are cut and fitted to the exact contour of the piece, with individual pieces thereafter sewn together. The cover is then installed upon the furniture to completely enclose the same and provide an appearance resembling the original upholstery. Such construction is, of course, rather expensive.

[0004] It is also known in the art to provide a generally planar textile throw which can be tucked in place at various positions on the furniture piece, but such devices, while relatively inexpensive, do not usually provide a satisfactory appearance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Briefly stated, the present invention comtemplates the provision of an improved textile cover of the type described, which may be manufactured to any of required dimensions, depending upon the size of the furniture piece, in which the textile material employed comprises a textile knit fabric including a small percentage of elastic material, so that when installed the cover may be stretched where required in order to fit snugly. The peripheral edge of the cover is provided with an elastic band, which contacts the under surface of the furniture after installation to maintain a snug fit. The seating cushions are also covered on the exposed side surfaces as well, and at the rear edge of the cushion there is provided a unique L-shaped configuration which allows a degree of expansion to relieve a forwardly directed stress where the upper surface of the cushion is contacted during seating. To maintain those portions of the fabric which are tucked into the gaps at the lower edges of the back and armrest parts of the sofa, a resilient foam elongated tube is positioned within the gap to overlie the fabric. For a three cushion sofa, for example, five such tubes are used, one at each of the armrest, and one at the rear of each cushion. The tubes are approximately two inches in diameter and approximately thirty inches long and are formed of foam material presenting an outer surface with a rough texture and a dry hand which will not allow the fabric to slip or move.

[0006] To improve any portion of the installed cover which has less than sufficient tension to provide an attractive appearance, one or more elongated clip means is provided, formed of a length of the elastic material with a fabric engaging jaw at one end thereof, and an elongated tongue at an opposite end thereof which may be tucked, along with excess fabric forming the cover into an interstice formed by the sections of the enclosed article of furniture. The effective unstressed length of the elastic band may be adjusted using a conventional buckle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] In the drawings, to which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

[0008]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a slip cover embodying the invention in installed condition upon a sofa.

[0009]FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a first step in the installation of the embodiment.

[0010]FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a second step in the installation of a cushion covering portion of the slip cover.

[0011]FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the position of the cushion covering portion prior to sitting thereupon by a user.

[0012]FIG. 5 is a similar sectional view showing the stretching of the cushion covering portion of the cover when the cushion is sat upon.

[0013]FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing installation of a tensioning clip forming a part of the embodiment.

[0014]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the clip prior to installation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENT

[0015] In accordance with the invention, and with reference to FIG. 1, the device 10 is adapted to be installed upon a typical upholstered sofa 11, having a seat portion 12, first and second arm portions 13 and 14 and a back portion 15. Normally, the sofa will be supported on a plurality of legs 16 so that an under surface may be accessed. The sofa will normally include a plurality of rectangular cushions 17.

[0016] The device 10 includes a plurality of parts, typically formed from a knit fabric or woven comprising approximately 90% cotton and 5% resilient material such as lycra. It forms a shell 21 having a lower free edge 22 with a continuous elastic band 23 wherein the shell formed by the component parts may be conveniently installed in normal manner (see FIGS. 2 and 3), tucking material into crevices and positioning the lower edge adjacent to the lower surface of the sofa, at which point the elastic means will contract to maintain the device in taut condition. Alternatively, it is possible to use a chenille type fabric comprising approximately 54% polyester, 40% rayon, and the remainder lycra which, although a woven fabric possess a sufficient resliency to provide an equivalent result.

[0017] Referring to FIG. 3, there is illustrated one of a plurality of cushion cover parts 30 of generally rectangular configuration including a front panel 31 (FIG. 1) an upper panel 32, side panels 33 and first and second rear panels 34 and 35 which may be a single piece of material of somewhat greater area than the area of the top panel of the cushion enclosed therebeneath.

[0018] The cover is installed (FIG. 2) by placing the same over the upper surfaces of the cushions as well the side, rear and back panels, wherein the cover is held in place by the elastic material incorporated into the peripheral edge 22 of the main shell. This will result in excess material at the rear upper edge of each of the cushions, which is accommodated by tucking the same when the cushion is positioned on the sofa.

[0019] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the cushion covering portion of the device is positioned such that the excess material formed by the L-shaped rear panel is tucked into the space or gap 36 formed by the lower edge of the back of the sofa, following which a foam tube 37, as described above is inserted (FIGS. 4 and 5) to be positioned thereon which serves to distribute stresses imparted when the underlying cushion is sat upon. A similar installation is made at the rear of each cushion as well as at the area beneath the armrests of the sofa.

[0020] When a user sits on the cushion, there is a tendency to pull the fabric on the upper panel comprising the cushion cover 30 distorting the same. Because of the excess material provided by the L-shape of the rear panel 35, this stretching is accommodated, and after the user arises, the elastic tension of the rear panels 35 and 36 returns the cover to initial position. The tucked portion is maintained by the pressure of the foam tube 37 (FIGS. 4 and 5).

[0021] Turning now to FIGS. 6 and 7 in the drawings there is illustrated a tensioning clip 40 which is selectively employed to improve the appearance of the installed cover in areas which do not fit the enclosed sofa as tautly as desired.

[0022] Each clip includes an elongated elastic band 41 approximately three quarters of an inch in width, and about thirty inches in length in relatively unstressed condition. A first end 42 is provided with a grasping jaw 43 and lever actuator 44 which is manually moved. A second end 45 includes a length adjusting buckle 46 of known type, and a tongue 47 which is inserted into an interstice before the tube 37 is positioned, as is the excess material of the cushion cover.

[0023]FIG. 6 illustrates a typical installation position of a clip, for example, at the lower edge of the shell of the cover, or at a forward edge of a seat cushion engaging portion of the cover. In both cases, once installation is completed, the clips will not be exposed to view.

[0024] It may thus be seen that I have invented novel and highly useful improvements in furniture slip covers construction, in which the substantial equivalent of a custom fitted cover may be obtained as a ready made product, and at considerable reduction in cost. The cover may be installed by users having only ordinary skills.

[0025] Separate or interconnected cushion cover panels are provided which are equally conveniently installed to be elastically retained. The cushion cover panels are provided with a rear panel arranged at an angle to absorb the stretching effect of a user when sitting down, so that upon rising, the elastic tension in the rear panel will return the cover to its original position.

[0026] I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention to be limited to the precise details of structure illustrated and described in the specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. 

I claim:
 1. A slip cover for an upholstered sofa and similar articles comprising: a plurality of interconnecting resilient textile panels forming a hollow shell with a continuous peripheral edge, and an elastic band overlying said peripheral edge whereby to retain said shell in taut condition upon said sofa.
 2. A cover in accordance with claim 1, said cover being formed of approximately 95% cotton and the remainder of elastic fibers.
 3. A unitary cover for an upholstered sofa and similar articles comprising: resilient textile fabric having a peripheral edge, elastic means for contracting said edge to maintain said cover upon said sofa; said cover including a plurality of interconnected panels overlying the upper, front, side and rear surfaces of a rectangular cushion forming part of said sofa, said panels including a rear panel having first and second parts in separate planes disposed at a mutual angle to provide a degree of excess material overlying said rear surface of said cushion; whereby when said cushion is sat upon, forwardly extending stress exerted upon said panels of said cover will be accommodated by resiliently expanding, to resiliently contract when said sofa is vacated.
 4. A cover in accordance with claim 3, wherein excess material formed by separate parts may be tucked beneath a lower edge of a back part of said sofa, and at least one resilient elongated tube positioned over said excess material to distribute stress over the width of said cover.
 5. A tensioning clip for use in providing additional tension to a portion of a furniture slip cover comprising: an elastic band having an unstressed length of approximately thirty inches, said band having a first end having a jaw means for selectively engaging a portion of fabric, said band having a second end having an elongated tongue for insertion into an interstice formed by an article of furniture enclosed by said slip cover.
 6. A clip in accordance with claim 5 including buckle means for adjusting the unstressed length of said band. 